General Attorney (Tort Law Attorney) GS-11/12/13/14 - General Law Division (GLD) (Telework)

The Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is currently seeking applications for a General Attorney position (Tort Law Attorney) in its General Law Division.

Who May Apply: This vacancy announcement is open to all US Citizens and may be used to fill multiple positions.

Duty Station: Washington, DC

Salary Range: $82,764 - $181,216

Series & Grade: GS-0905-11/12/13/14

Promotion Potential: 14

Open Period: November 22, 2024 – December 6, 2024

Job Summary:

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is the legal team for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), providing quality representation and legal advice in a wide range of highly visible national issues. OGC supports the development and implementation of the Department's programs by providing the highest quality legal services to the Secretary of HHS and the organization's various agencies and divisions.

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at the Department of Health and Human Services is seeking an attorney to join its Tort Claims Group in the General Law Division (GLD), Claims and Employment Law Branch. GLD provides general legal support to the entire department in the primary practice areas of procurement, fiscal, information, claims, and employment law.

OGC is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. At OGC, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of who we are. We're always growing our network of people, programs, and tools to allow our staff to do their best work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. OGC is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

For additional information about OGC's mission, please visit our website at: http://www.hhs.gov/ogc/index.html

Duties:

This is an opening for a General Attorney position in the GLD’s Claims and Employment Law Branch (CEL). CEL is seeking an attorney to handle administrative tort claims (primarily medical malpractice) that are filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) and support related litigation and advice work. Areas of responsibility include: (1) performing legal research and analysis; (2) drafting tort memoranda and negotiating settlement of FTCA administrative claims, where appropriate; and (3) drafting litigation reports, answers, motions, briefs, or other pleadings appropriate to the defense of FTCA cases in federal district court and appellate court, in conformity with applicable rules and regulations. Tort claim attorneys also provide litigation support to U.S. Attorneys Offices around the country when complaints are filed in federal court. Other duties include advising and preparing legal opinions on the FTCA and reviewing requests for waiver of overpayment and drafting recommended decisions.

We are seeking to fill the position at the GS-11 to GS-14 level ($82,764-$181,216) depending on experience and qualifications: Applicants should have experience in medical malpractice litigation and advice work, outstanding client counseling skills; superior legal writing and research ability with a demonstrated commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service.

The position is located in Washington, D.C., and reimbursement for relocation expenses is not available.

Qualifications Required:

Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the position qualifications listed on this announcement. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

At the GS-11: You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.B from an accredited ABA law school and possess active bar status in good standing.

At the GS-12: You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.B from an accredited ABA law school, active bar status in good standing, and one year of professional legal experience post bar admission equivalent to the GS-11 level.

At the GS-13: You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.B from an accredited ABA law school, active bar status in good standing, and two years of professional legal experience post bar admission equivalent to the GS-12 level with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 level.

At the GS-14: You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) or LL.B from an accredited ABA law school, active bar status in good standing, and three years of professional legal experience post bar admission equivalent to the GS-13 level with one year of experience equivalent to the GS-13 level.

Conditions of Employment:

  • You must possess a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited ABA law school.
  • Have at least one year (for GS-12); two years (for GS-13) three years (for GS-14) of experience after law school as a practicing attorney.
  • Proof that bar status is active, in good standing and eligible to practice in the highest court of a State, U. S. commonwealth, U. S. territory, or the District of Columbia.
  • Candidates must also have exemplary legal writing, oral advocacy abilities, possess excellent interpersonal skills, and displays a capacity to work with diverse individuals and groups.
  • Strong consideration will be given to candidates with knowledge of federal-sector employment and labor law; litigation experience; and superior legal writing and research ability with a demonstrated commitment to professionalism, ethics, civility, and public service.
  • Must maintain active bar membership in good standing and the eligibility to practice law in the highest court of a state, territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia throughout employment in the Office of the General Counsel.
  • Upon final job offer from HHS OHR, the successful candidate must submit official law school transcripts.
  • Security and Background Requirements: If not previously completed, a background security investigation will be required for all appointees. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements may be grounds for appropriate personnel action. In addition, if hired, a background security reinvestigation or supplemental investigation may be required at a later time. Applicants are also advised that all information concerning qualifications is subject to investigation. False representation may be grounds for non-consideration, non-selection and/or appropriate disciplinary action.
  • E-Verify: If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-Verify" System. Federal law requires DHS to use the E-Verify System to verify employment eligibility of all new hires and as a condition of continued employment obligates the new hire to take affirmative steps to resolve any discrepancies identified by the system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is an E-Verify Participant.
  • Direct Deposit: All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
  • All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
  • Financial disclosure statement may be required.
  • Two-year trial period may be required.
  • Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid.
  • This position may be in a bargaining unit.
  • Telework Eligible: Yes - as determined by the agency policy.
  • Multiple selections may be made from this announcement.

In accordance with Executive Order 12564 of September 14, 1986, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is A Drug-Free Federal Workplace. The Federal government, as the largest employer in the Nation, can and should show the way towards achieving drug-free workplaces through programs designed to offer drug users a helping hand, and at the same time demonstrating to drug users and potential drug users that drugs will not be tolerated in the Federal workplace. The use of illegal drugs, on or off duty, by Federal employees is inconsistent not only with the law-abiding behavior expected of all citizens, but also with the special trust placed in such employees as servants of the public. Applicants tentatively selected for this position may be required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and be subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident drug testing upon hiring. If required to submit to urinalysis, the appointment to the position will be contingent upon a negative applicant drug test result. In order to demonstrate commitment to the HHS goal of a drug-free workplace and to set an example for other Federal employees, employees not in a testing designated position may volunteer for unannounced random testing by notifying their Drug-free Federal Workplace Program Point of Contact upon hiring.

Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.

Instructions To Apply:

Please submit the following documents to employlawapplications@hhs.gov. To receive full consideration, submit all materials by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date of the announcement:

  • Cover letter.
  • Resume (must include education, including name of undergraduate and law school, degree received, and date graduated; date admitted to bar and jurisdiction; a general description of all past employment relevant to the practice of law, including dates of employment (full time or part time) and supervisors name and telephone number(s).
  • Legal writing sample (up to 20 pages).
  • Proof that bar status is active, in good standing and eligible to practice in a state, territory of the U.S., the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
  • Names and contact information for at least three professional references.
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